Study Horses
Are horses your passion? Expand your skills and knowledge to make your passion your career. Learn about horse behaviour, nutrition, handling, health, management, performance, and business.
You will begin your studies at REACH-Huron where you will be fully immersed in both hands-on and theoretical equine learning. Your second year of studies will continue at Ridgetown Campus for the opportunity to study with students from other programs and get involved in campus life.
Whether you are new to horses or want to fine-tune your skills, you will learn how to work with performance horses of varying temperaments, and the ins and outs of managing an “A” level facility.
Program Benefits
2-year program
In only two years, you’ll be ready for your career with applied and practical experiences in lectures and labs.
2 locations
Your first year will be at REACH-Huron and your second year will be at Ridgetown Campus.
Learn from the best
Learn and experience different areas of the industry through experienced instructors, industry field trips (including an elective trip to England) and guest speakers.
Small class sizes
In this niche program, you and your classmates will form a close co-hort and benefit from excellent teacher-student ratios.
Theory + practice
This program combines in-depth equine theory with applied horse handling and business courses.
Horses from all disciplines
The teaching horses you will work with and learn from are from a variety of sectors and disciplines.
Co-op Option
Co-operative education is an opportunity for you to extend your learning beyond the classroom. As a co-op student, you will gain work experience, build professional networks, and develop interpersonal skills essential to pursuing a career with horses. Plus, you’ll get paid while earning your diploma.
In the co-op program, you will participate in one (1) co-op work term (during the summer) in addition to four academic semesters.
Co-op students receive an exceptional level of support in securing a placement. You will take a co-op preparatory course, a Co-op Coordinator will assist you during the employment process, and you will have access to senior student mentors. Learn more about the Co-op program.
20
teaching barn stalls.
12
horses in the teaching herd.
2
international travel opportunities.
Degree Pathways
Graduates of the Associate Diploma in Equine Care and Management program may be eligible to enter the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management in Equine Management program if they received a minimum cumulative average of 75% or higher in the associate diploma program. Successful applicants will receive 7.5 transfer credits. In many cases, this will eliminate 1 to 2 years of the degree completion time. Learn more about the U of G Degree Pathway.
Required Courses
Year One
Year Two
Notes
- The Associate Diploma in Equine Care & Management requires the completion of 24 courses (12.00 credits) total
- Successful completion of a 4-week Industry Work Placement, at the end of semester 4, is also required
- For a list of all courses and the curriculum layout, please refer to the Associate Diploma Calendar
Careers
- Assistant Horse Trainer
- Equine Events Manager
- Equine Facility Manager/Owner
- Equine Marketing & Sales Representative
- Equine Office Administrator
- Equine Rehabilitation Technician
- Exercise Rider
- Feed or Tack Retail Operator
- International Show Groom
- Show/Breeding/Race Barn Manager
Admissions
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Equivalent
- A minimum cumulative average of 65% in 6 Grade 11 or Grade 12 U, C, M, or O level courses (excludes Co-op credits)
- Includes a minimum of Grade 11C Math and Grade 12C English
- Or apply under Mature Student Status: Applicants don't have a high school diploma/equivalent but are 19 years of age or older and out of high school for a minimum of 1 year; pre-admission testing may be required
Admission Requirements
- The official secondary school (high school) graduation certificate/diploma that would admit you to an internationally recognized university in your home country is normally acceptable for applications to our programs
- For further details on out-of-country admission requirements, including the General Certificate of Education (GCE), please refer to the University of Guelph's website at admission.uoguelph.ca/international
- Official documents should come directly from the issuing institution or accreditation body in their official, sealed envelope. Where English translations are needed, please have the documents verified and sent by the issuing academic institution
- Post-secondary transcripts must be assessed by World Education Services (WES). Both a Credentialed assessment and a course-by-course assessment is required. Supporting documentation should be uploaded to your Ontario Colleges Application Account
English Proficiency
You will be required to present evidence of English Proficiency if:
- your primary or first language is not English, and
- you have had less than four years of full-time secondary school or post-secondary study, demonstrating satisfactory academic progress, in an English-language school system.
Ridgetown Campus reserves the right to deny admission to you if you do not demonstrate satisfactory facility in English, regardless of academic qualifications.
Francophone Canadian citizens educated in Canada will not be required to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. You will also be considered as having met the English Proficiency requirement if you completed the International Baccalaureate diploma where English was the language of instruction.
Acceptable English Proficiency Tests
International English Language Testing System (IELTS - Academic)
- Competence Level: Minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)
- Competence Level: Minimum overall band score of 70.
- Please note that the University of Guelph will be accepting the CAEL Online Test for Fall 2021 admission only and will re-evaluate the opportunity for future use.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Competence Level: Internet-based: minimum total score of 89 with no individual scaled score less than 21.
TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition
- Competence Level: Internet-based: minimum total score of 89 with no individual scaled score less than 21.
- Please note that the University of Guelph will be accepting TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition for Fall 2021 admission only and will re-evaluate the opportunity for future use.
- Competence Level: Minimum overall score of 60 and no score less than 60 for any individual component.
Advanced Level of the English Language Certificate Program (ELCP)
- Competence Level: Successful completion of the University of Guelph, Open Learning Advanced Level of the English Language Certificate Program (Levels 9 and 10).
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- Competence Level: Minimum overall score of 176 with no band less than 169.
- Competence Level: Minimum overall score of 110.
The University of Guelph institution code is 0892.
Fees
| Ontario Resident Year 1 Approximate Costs | In CAD |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,198.60 |
| Compulsory Fees | $1,334.12 |
| Co-op Fees (if applicable) | $600.00 |
| Textbooks | $587.00 |
| Total | $5,119.72 |
| Total with Co-op Fee | $5,719.72 |
| Out of Province Year 1 Approximate | In CAD |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,358.53 |
| Compulsory Fees | $1,334.12 |
| Co-op Fees (if applicable) | $600.00 |
| Textbooks | $587.00 |
| Total | $5,279.65 |
| Total with Co-op Fee | $5,879.65 |
| International Year 1 Approximates Costs | In CAD |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,618.08 |
| Compulsory Fees | $2,090.12 |
| Co-op Fees (if applicable) | $600.00 |
| Textbooks | $587.00 |
| Total | $15,295.20 |
| Total with Co-op Fee | $15,895.20 |
Estimates based on 2022-2023 fee schedule.
Facilities
REACH-Huron
- Spacious Teaching Barn
- Wash Stalls
- Heated Tack Room
- Indoor Arena
- Outdoor Arena
- REACH Huron-Operated Boarding Stalls
Ridgetown Campus
- Computer Lab
- Lecture Halls
- Classrooms
- Library and Resource Centre
- Study Lounge
- Student Residence
- Cafeteria
- Gymnasium and Fitness Centre
- Plenty of green space